Chapter 175
Chapter 175
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 175
Chapter Title: Exposed in the Sunlight #4
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People lose all sense of reality when they hear something utterly shocking.
It feels like your body is floating in the air, as if you're dreaming.
At least, that's how it was for me.
The moment Elga started telling her unbelievable story, I felt like I was drifting through the sky one second, then plummeting endlessly the next, as if the ground had vanished beneath my feet.
I couldn't believe it.
Elga was pregnant.
"...Is that really true?"
I needed to confirm if what I'd heard was real.
Elga had a habit of toying with her prey like a cat, after all. She might just be lying to gauge my reaction.
But her attitude seemed genuine enough. If anything, my question annoyed her—she crossed her arms and scowled fiercely.
"Is that really true? You think I'd lie about something like this?"
"No, it's not that. It's just... it doesn't feel real."
"Doesn't feel real? You're such a ridiculous little elf. You irresponsibly fill me up, and now..."
She seemed about to say more, but Elga just let out a long sigh instead.
"Whatever. Anyway, we'll know for sure after an examination. But my cycle's passed, and it still hasn't come. I'm regular—never late."
She meant her period hadn't arrived. Elga was so active and healthy that her cycle never slipped.
Stifling my bewilderment, I asked,
"How long has it been?"
"No idea. A few weeks since my last period."
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"Why? There was no time, no good moment. I wasn't even sure myself. Jumping to conclusions would've been embarrassing."
Come to think of it, there had been times when Elga started to say something to me, then stopped. She'd built up to some kind of confession before brushing it off vaguely.
Maybe that was this. The timing lined up—a few weeks ago.
But like she said, without certainty, she hadn't spoken up. Now, she was starting to accept it.
"No wonder. So that's why you've been rummaging through my fridge like a stray cat. Pregnancy cravings."
"What the hell, you punk? Stray cat?"
Elga balled her fist in anger, then slowly relaxed it. I thought she was about to flick my forehead, but surprisingly, she didn't.
She scratched her cheek awkwardly.
"Like I said, we'll know after an exam. But you know how it is. I'm kind of famous."
"True."
No one in the Ark didn't know Elga.
Descendant of the Lion King who once ruled the continent. Blessed with golden hair and blue eyes. Her outgoing nature made her shine like the evening star wherever she went, drawing all eyes.
"Imagine me going to a doctor or healer for a checkup. Rumors would spread like wildfire, right?"
"Naturally."
"So now you get why I only told you now?"
"I understand."
"Best case, we'd call in specialists from my family, but that's impossible. So, do you know any underground doctors? Ones who keep their mouths shut?"
"You mean shady back-alley healers who work the underworld?"
"Yeah."
Someone came to mind immediately. The lady with flame-red hair—Lady Kallira.
She worked as the Ark's health officer. In truth, she was something like a spy I'd planted here covertly.
"Then we should get that examination."
* * *
Elga and I headed to the infirmary in the Ark's main building.
Lady Kallira was there. She took one look at our faces as we slipped inside and locked the door, then nodded knowingly.
"Need some tinea flower, by any chance?"
"Tinea flower?"
What the hell was that?
As I puzzled over the random mention, picturing fields of flowers in my head, Kallira opened a drawer and rummaged through the herbs inside.
"It's for inducing abortion. I happen to have some left. Let me see..."
Abortion herbs?
Elga jumped in shock at the mention.
"I don't need any of that!"
Kallira shut the drawer at Elga's frantic protest. She removed her prop glasses—no prescription, just for disguise—and tucked them into her coat pocket.
"I see. I assumed you'd come for tinea flower. Young couples showing up with grim faces usually do."
Having worked as a back-alley apothecary and dealer in illicit herbs, Lady Kallira clearly had plenty of experience. But we weren't here for that—we just needed a checkup.
I said,
"We're just here for an examination. And it needs to be discreet, confidential, and completely private. Got it?"
"Of course. I always keep my patients' secrets. Alright, miss, let's start simple. This brush is made from nymph hair."
She lightly brushed a crimson brush across Elga's palm.
Swish swish.
But Elga looked baffled.
"What's this for?"
"No reaction. That method won't work. Under two months, then... One moment."
Kallira rummaged through another drawer, pulled out a spray bottle, shook the solution inside, and misted it in front of Elga's face.
"Achoo!"
Elga sneezed like her nose itched unbearably. Kallira just nodded and muttered, "As expected."
Curious, I asked,
"What's the result?"
"My secret brew. Early-term pregnancies trigger a unique mana response—causing an allergic reaction."
"So that sneeze...?"
"Exactly."
Lady Kallira confirmed Elga von Lionese's pregnancy.
Only then did it all start feeling real to me. Suppressed emotions surged like a burst dam.
"Congratulations? You'll soon learn if it's a boy or girl, so come back regularly."
Kallira congratulated Elga and handed over a vial filled with pea-sized round beads.
"Take one a day, anytime. And no strenuous activity for now, obviously."
That wrapped up our talk with Lady Kallira.
She could've pried or shown curiosity—it wouldn't have been odd—but her back-alley professionalism held. No questions, no chit-chat.
Elga and I left the infirmary, strolling the main building's vast hallway toward the promenade. The sunset blazed ahead, dazzling.
"......"
"......"
Neither of us spoke. We just wandered aimlessly. Then Elga suddenly crouched on the ground.
I startled.
"Elga, you okay? What's wrong?"
"...No, it's just hitting me now. It hits hard. Bam."
I didn't quite get "bam," but the exam and confirmation had made it real for her too.
Like me, she'd been half-doubting. Now, with proof, her pent-up feelings flooded in.
"Ah, damn— what do I tell Dad?"
Her mind was clearly racing with how to explain this to everyone around her.
I felt the same. Her belly would grow soon enough. No hiding it then. Time was short...
Anxiety mixed with something indescribable, alien—a strange new feeling settled in my heart.
How to put it? Like someone connected to me had appeared in my lonely world.
Literally true. Family growing by one. I wouldn't be the sole Angmar anymore. More quarter-nymphs incoming, too.
"Elga, what now?"
"Why ask me? You did this. Bad guy. Don't you have a plan?"
Fair point. I did have a plan—this was just the first step's result. Tiny compared to my grand vision.
Yet momentous enough to leave my mind blank for a moment.
"Hoo."
I exhaled briefly, steadying my stress. Calm thought kicked in, quieting my inner turmoil like still water.
First priority: reassure Elga.
Her confusion had to be worse. Time to man up, show resolve, be her pillar.
"It's all good. We're on track with my plan now."
"What's your plan?"
"Everyone building big families and living happily."
"......"
Zap.
Elga shot me a glare.
* * *
I escorted Elga back to her room and laid out some ground rules.
"Avoid anything strenuous from now on."
She should keep things quiet for the time being, live as usual. Elga nodded in agreement.
"If word gets out, my dad'll rip your head off first thing."
Reinhardt would, no doubt.
"But we can't hide it forever. The baby's coming on schedule. So, you confident?"
Her question gave me pause—just a second. Did I have what it took? Only one answer.
"I wouldn't have made it this far without confidence. Just trust me, Elga. I'll step up like a man and take responsibility."
"Hmph, like a man, huh. Fine, manly enough. Whatever. I'm heading in to rest. Need a break today."
Elga shut her door. The exam results must've exhausted her mentally. I turned from her room.
I'd assumed pregnancy after our intimacy. But now that it was real, the feeling was oddly complex.
I wondered suddenly if my own parents had felt this way.
A real family for me.
"......"
I gazed at the blood-red sunset until dusk fully fell.